Kolkata Municipal Corporation removes TMC billboards from Abhishek Banerjee’s office

A high-voltage scuffle erupted between Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee and police at the former’s 9 Camac Street office on Thursday around 3 pm. Police detained employees at Abhishek’s office for obstructing them with physical force. The scuffle ensued for around 15 minutes before police and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) officials forcefully went up the stairs.

The officials accompanied police from Shakespeare Sarani police station with a notice to enter the building and remove billboards and flexes of All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), which they say are illegal.

Abhishek, who was present at the office, told the KMC official who gave him the notice that the information was incomplete. Following this, a scuffle began. The TMC MP termed the move by police and KMC backed by the BJP as a means to break his party and that the right manner would be to approach the court and seek a response.

“Their (police’s) money comes from the common taxpayer’s money. It does not come from the BJP. Will BJP decide what billboard I will put outside my office? There are 500 billboards on Camac Street,” said Abhishek Banerjee. The TMC MP alleged that police were assisting KMC officials to enter the office for inspection.

“You can come with engineers, a measuring tape but why a gas cutter?” questioned the TMC MP, stating that it is private property and amounts to illegal trespassing.

Police however stated there are other offices in the building and the common entrance is public property. KMC officials and police removed the flex in front of the office and the AITC banner from the terrace. The footpath outside the office was cordoned off for passersby. A huge police presence was seen after TMC supporters and employees were detained by police and taken away in police vans. However, this did not stop other supporters from protesting outside the office, shouting Joy Bangla slogans, alleging manhandling by police even after the billboards were removed.

TMC MP Derek Obrien was pushed and fell back on the stairs as police attempted to go ahead and were stopped by employees of Abhishek’s office and TMC workers, some of whom were chanting ‘Joy Bangla’ slogans.

"We will oppose the BJP tooth and nail," said Derek Obrien.

In response, BJP said the KMC was doing its work. “They (TMC) ran the government for 15 years. They know the government works in a certain manner. They have done illegal things. If KMC thinks there is something illegal, they will go and do their work,” said BJP leader Locket Chatterjee.

"The way Abhishek Banerjee's staff opposed the police, it raises questions whether they are workers or hooligans," said minister Sukanta Majumdar.